The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Tribe beats Angels in Los Angeles for Game 3
ANAHEIM » Francisco Lindor and the Indians got off to another quick start on their way to another victory in what’s shaping up to be a memorable month.
Lindor homered and drove in three runs in the first two innings, and the Indians pounded another Angels starter in an 8-3 victory over Los Angeles on June 12.
Carlos Santana hit two homers and drove in three more runs for the AL Central leaders, who took two of three at the Big A on their way to Kansas City and their first visit of the season to the defending World Series champion Royals.
The Indians (35-27) have won nine of 12 in June with uniformly strong play, keeping the division lead they took over the Royals during the clubs’ last series. They’ve won six of seven over Kansas City already this year, and the Indians warmed up for the next meeting by battering the slumping Angels yet again.
“The team is doing the little things the right way,” Lindor said. “We’re pushing each other. We’re holding each other accountable, and we’re having fun as teammates, as friends. I couldn’t be happier for us.”
Lindor’s three hits after a rare day off included a solo shot in the first and a bases-loaded single during the Tribe’s four-run second, chasing David Huff (0-2).
“It makes us enjoy the game a little more,” Lindor said of another early lead. “We’re not going to score that many runs every day, but we know what we’re capable of doing.”
Danny Salazar (7-3) pitched three-hit ball into the sixth with eight strikeouts, earning his third victory in four starts.
Jefry Marte hit his third homer in five games for the Angels, but their starter couldn’t escape the second inning for the second time in three games against Cleveland’s opportunistic lineup.
“Kind of like it was in the first game (of the series) — get a lead, hold on,” Indians manager Terry Francona said. “We did a good job early.”
Mike Trout left the game in the eighth inning with a bruised right thumb after getting hit by a pitch from Cleveland reliever Tommy Hunter. X-rays showed no broken bones for the 2014 AL MVP, and he hopes to play June 13.
Huff, who made his major-league debut with Cleveland in 2009, wasn’t sharp in his second fillin start in the Angels’ injury-plagued rotation. The Southern California native yielded five runs on five hits and got just five outs.